Xu Xiao had barely departed when the generals, colonels, and captains of Lingshou gathered gradually outside a mansion. They presented their visiting cards to the gatekeeper, most of them made of expensive materials and written in gold ink. One could hardly expect these rough martial men to possess any refined elegance. On this street, the governor’s mansion had the highest threshold and, logically, the most visitors. Yet the new mansion of the Lingshou General was so bustling with carriages and crowds that it was truly breathtaking.
Inside the mansion, Xu Fengnian was chatting with Xu Beizhi. He hadn’t expected that when Beizhi heard of his failure to secure a position from Li Degong, he was not surprised at all, merely commenting that it was only natural.
Fengnian did not try to figure out whether Beizhi was complimenting his cunning or mocking his inability to achieve anything by riding on another’s coattails. But since Beizhi, who would soon be wearing the hat of a provincial official, was not worried, Fengnian decided to play along and happily wait for news. The steward of the mansion, Zheng Fulü, was an old retainer from Qingliang Mountain, middle-aged and dignified in appearance. In the past, when the young master lavishly purchased poetry and prose, it was Zheng who handled the silver. He was very reliable. Now, with a happy expression, he hurried to the study door and reported to the young master about the lively scene outside the gate, holding a large bag of visiting cards. If one scraped off the gold powder on them, it would be enough to enjoy a fine feast at the Hugui Pavilion in Lingshou. Xu Fengnian waved his hand at Zheng and said, “Decline them all. Say I won’t see anyone.”
Zheng bowed slightly without any hesitation or questions, then scurried back the way he came. He simply announced that the Lingshou General would not be receiving any guests today and shut the main gate, not even leaving the side door open. It was clear there would be no leniency, leaving everyone completely disheartened. These martial men, who usually acted arrogantly in Lingshou, did not seem too disappointed. After all, they had come in groups, just joining the crowd for fun. Who really expected the Lingshou General, who wouldn’t hold his position for long, to grant them promotions? In the end, it was the status of the heir to Beiliang that compelled them to humble themselves and brave this cold northern wind.
Moreover, there was an unwritten rule in the Beiliang bureaucracy: Yuzhou was largely Yan Wenluan’s domain, while most of Lingshou was Zhong Hongwu’s private backyard. The two factions had always kept their distance. This group was mostly composed of Zhong Hongwu’s old subordinates, especially his loyal followers who had greatly benefited from him. Some of them were reluctant even to make appearances. Several influential junior officers, those below the rank of general, gathered together as if sharing a silent understanding, drinking wine and privately grumbling. They thought the young master was too ruthless. He had already humiliated the old general, Zhong, and yet he did not know when to stop. Coming to Lingshou so brazenly, he had trampled on the old general’s dignity, which had already fallen to the ground. None of them could believe how disrespectful this young man was. They were all outraged, feeling indignant on behalf of the old general. A couple of hotheaded junior officers even slammed the table in anger, while a few more calculating ones drank silently, their expressions dark and their eyes sinister.
They would never dare to rebel against the Xu family, even with a hundred Courage. However, after years in the bureaucracy, they had learned many tricks. They knew how to slack off and delay tasks effortlessly. And they weren’t just martial men banding together. Among those present, who didn’t have some familial ties with the civilian officials in Lingshou? The seasoned bureaucrats sitting behind their desks in the government offices understood the rules and boundaries perfectly. They didn’t even need to express anger, yet the machinery of the Lingshou bureaucracy began to stall. The key was that no one could find fault with them. “You scholars from other regions come to Lingshou to snatch our rice bowls? Taking away someone’s official position is even worse than stealing their lover.” After whispering and weighing their options, these junior officers left with sinister smiles.
Beiliang had few aristocratic families, so the bureaucracy was mostly filled with petty clerks from humble backgrounds. These men were not lacking in intelligence and were naturally adept at scheming. If high-ranking officials were the fearsome Yama Kings on the stage, then these were the more troublesome gatekeepers. Some clerks with skillful methods could even sideline officials, manipulate the bureaucracy, and render their superiors mere figureheads. Zhang Julu, in governing the court, had specifically targeted these clerks’ abuses, directly identifying them as a threat to the nation’s stability. However, despite Zhang Shoufu’s reputation for effective governance, his efforts to reform the clerk system had not yielded results, and senior officials in the court often mocked and criticized him. Especially those upright ministers from humble backgrounds chose to watch coldly. If even the imperial court, dominated by aristocratic scholars, struggled with such issues, Beiliang was naturally even more vulnerable.
Nearly a thousand scholars had come to Beiliang. Though their roots were not deeply entrenched, they had infiltrated every corner of the Lingshou bureaucracy, making them the first to bear the brunt. Thus, as the year drew to a close, Lingshou quickly became chaotic. Documents piled up, street gangs clashed in the markets, prisoners in the jails killed each other, and government granaries either caught fire mysteriously or had several inches of grain rot. All these small troubles sprouted like mushrooms after rain. Not only were the local magistrates overwhelmed, fearing they would not have a peaceful New Year, but even the governor, Li Degong, began to struggle with the endless stream of subordinates coming to complain daily. In contrast, Huangnan Commandery stood out like a crane among chickens, with clear and orderly governance. Longqing Commandery was the opposite, in a particularly dire situation, leaking from all sides. It was said that the governor, Zhong Chengxin, personally handled every matter, working late into the night, and had already developed some gray hairs from worry.
The Lingshou bureaucracy was in a mess, and the Lingshou General’s mansion stood deserted, fitting the cold winter season.
A carriage quietly rolled out of Lingshou Prefecture, heading toward Huangnan Commandery. The coachman wore a short coat made of yellow wolf fur, and the more robust his build, the more shabby he appeared. Few would believe that he was actually a deputy general of Lingshou.
Inside the carriage, besides Xu Fengnian, there was also the servant girl Huyan Guanyin. These days, Xu Fengnian had been staying up late, meticulously reviewing the records of Lingshou officials, often marking them with a red brush. He had paid little attention to this young woman, who, had she come to Beiliang ten years earlier, would likely have made the list of the most beautiful women. On this trip, Xu Fengnian had only decided to have Zheng Fulü call her to accompany him when he was about to step out the door. Whether it was due to water and soil incompatibility or not, Huyan Guanyin seemed less lively and spirited than when she was in dire straits on the grasslands, her vitality dimmed, losing her former vibrancy. Xu Fengnian thought that after returning to Lingshou, he would find an opportunity to send her to a peaceful and quiet place. It would be better than letting her slowly wither away in the cold, high-walled mansion. Some women are not truly cherished by being kept tightly in one’s grasp; instead, it is a waste of their beauty. Originally, if Huyan Guanyin had adapted well to Beiliang, Xu Fengnian wouldn’t have minded keeping her by his side. Whether or not he took her as a lover didn’t matter; just looking at her was pleasing to the eye.
On this journey, Xu Fengnian was not idle. He held a dossier detailing the backgrounds of several key officials in Huangnan Commandery. These neat, small characters were painstakingly compiled by the junior maids of the Wutong Courtyard, who had worked through the night. He could instantly recognize which parts were written by Lüyi and which by Huanggua, as he had lived with these girls for many years.
Xu Fengnian rubbed his temples, set the letter aside, and went over the information in his mind. Then he lifted the curtain, and the cold, crisp air unique to Beiliang rushed in. He kept the curtain raised for a long time. After leaving the city, Huyan Guanyin felt sleepy and curled up in a corner of the carriage, dozing off slightly. A gust of wind woke her suddenly, and she quietly looked at his profile, biting her thin lips, which were so fresh and red that it seemed as if her teeth might draw blood with just a little more pressure.
Seeing that she was somewhat unaccustomed to the cold wind, Xu Fengnian quickly lowered the curtain and smiled warmly, saying, “I couldn’t sleep last night and wandered aimlessly around the mansion like a ghost. I saw a pot of Fengxian flowers by your window. It’s already past their blooming season. How could they still bloom in this cold weather?”
Huyan Guanyin blinked and replied softly, “When I first entered the mansion, I saw a few flowers growing in the corners. They didn’t seem to be planted by the mansion, so I boldly transplanted one into a small pot. I didn’t know it was called Fengxian flower, nor did I know its blooming season.”
Xu Fengnian nodded with a smile, saying, “This flower, like the petty clerks who are currently causing trouble in Beiliang, is not of high quality. But don’t be fooled by its delicate appearance; it can grow anywhere. Even in the cold, barren lands of Beiliang, it thrives. In summer and autumn, women who can’t afford cosmetics like to use its flower juice to dye their fingernails, which is very eye-catching. Although this flower is looked down upon by scholars from Jiangnan, who favor chrysanthemums and peonies, and is even given the derogatory nickname ‘chrysanthemum servant,’ I think it’s still useful. Whether it’s a servant of the chrysanthemum or not, if it can be admired and used to dye fingernails, it has fulfilled its purpose. I like it very much. In my home, there are many of them, growing wildly everywhere. Other famous flowers and plants can’t stop them from spreading. However, I have never seen them bloom in winter. I suppose no one is willing to bring them indoors in pots, so you accidentally delayed their blooming season. By the way, this flower is very hardy. My second sister gave it a nickname, ‘Impatient,’ because when exposed to strong sunlight, a gust of wind or a pinch from your fingernails will cause the seeds to shoot out far away. When I was a child, whenever I made my second sister angry, she wouldn’t speak to me for days. I always used the ‘Impatient’ flower to shoot seeds at her face. I would rather she scolded me than ignore me.”
As Xu Fengnian finished speaking, he noticed Huyan Guanyin staring at him, and he awkwardly said, “You didn’t do anything wrong, so why would I scold you? Besides, I’m just busy with a lot of things right now, and I’m feeling quite stressed. It’s not that I don’t want to talk to you. I know how to write the four characters for self-restraint and self-reflection, and I can even write them better than some calligraphy masters. Unfortunately, I’ve never been good at practicing them. I often take my anger out on others. You haven’t seen me when I was angry with my father. Back then, when I was young and foolish, whenever something upset me, I would take it out on him. I could chase him ten thousand miles with a broom. But looking back now, although it was childish, I don’t feel much guilt. After all, who else could it be but my father, my closest person? Right? Besides, back then he was still quick on his feet, running faster than anyone. Everyone respected him as the King of Beiliang and the Great General, but I always called him the ‘Running General.’”
Huyan Guanyin looked at him as he grinned, and that smile was so innocent and childlike. She lowered her gaze, avoiding his eyes.
Seeing her timid retreat, Xu Fengnian felt a little self-mocking. Did he look like a rogue with the words “lecher” written on his forehead? He remembered that on the grasslands, her entire tribe had regarded him as a god. How quickly had he revealed his true colors? Xu Fengnian gathered his thoughts and lowered his head, picking up the letter that had been placed on his knee. He focused intently, giving Governor Li a few more days. Perhaps the sudden storm in the Lingshou bureaucracy had kept this “Uncle Li” busy with official matters, temporarily preventing him from promoting Xu Beizhi. Although it was not to his liking, Xu Fengnian was willing to endure a little longer. Back then, if he hadn’t hinted to Xu Xiao about the Yan family’s escape from Lingshou through a secret path, Yan Jie Xi might not have left Beiliang so smoothly. Xu Fengnian reminded himself never to be so soft-hearted again.
Huangnan Commandery was where Li Degong had risen to prominence. Although Li’s reputation as an official was not good, his ability to recognize and use talent was considerable. Naturally, he favored his own protégés, but there were several students who were among the most capable officials in the Beiliang region. Without these individuals to enhance his reputation, Li Degong would not have been so generously appointed as the second-highest official in Beiliang by the Xu family based solely on their old ties. The governor of Huangnan Commandery, Song Yan, was one of these outstanding individuals. Without a prestigious teacher, he had become a self-taught master of legalism, tactics, and power. If it weren’t for his frequent disagreements with Xu Xiao and his inability to cooperate with the other “lapdogs” of Li Degong, he would not have remained merely a commandery governor. This time, Li Degong’s genuine concern and urgency stemmed precisely from the unusual situation in Huangnan Commandery. In normal circumstances, this would be a remarkable achievement. However, with the newly appointed Lingshou General In a predicament, Huangnan Commandery had become an eye-catching exception. If the young master was stuck in the mud, how could Song Yan be perched high on a branch? Even if he remained silent, those with ulterior motives would find his presence annoying. Xu Fengnian exhaled deeply, narrowing his eyes in thought. Without a doubt, Song Yan must have received one or two secret letters from Governor Li, urging his student to tarnish his reputation quickly.
When the people under one’s command are too skilled at playing politics and avoiding actual work, it becomes a real headache. Now, with Zhong Hongwu serving as a cautionary example, no one would be foolish enough to confront the Lingshou General head-on. As a result, they resorted to subtle, underhanded tactics, which only made the situation more irritating. Xu Beizhi, that fellow, was not loyal either. After failing to obtain the position of Lingshou Governor, he returned to Longqing Commandery to watch the show.
A copper coin, no longer in circulation, slowly rolled between Xu Fengnian’s fingers. Huyan Guanyin watched the coin flip over and over again, endlessly and monotonously, yet she seemed utterly fascinated by it, not even noticing when Xu Fengnian lifted his head to look at her.
Xu Fengnian put away the copper coin that the heir of the Yan Kingdom had returned to him and softly said, “Before the Lunar New Year, I have to return to Liangzhou. When that time comes, you can leave Lingshou with me. Do you want to go back to the northern grasslands or take a look at the south of the Yangtze River?”
Huyan Guanyin seemed to realize the question only after a moment and asked, “With you?”
Xu Fengnian couldn’t help but smile and said, “Of course you’ll go alone. How could I possibly have the time to accompany you?”
She blinked and lowered her head again.
Xu Fengnian reached out and gently tapped her on the head, feigning annoyance as he said, “The entire Lingshou bureaucracy has conspired against me with underhanded tactics. How could you, too, be learning from them and using them against me? Do you think I’ll kick you off the carriage?”
She looked up but remained silent.
Suddenly, Xu Fengnian had an epiphany. He hesitated for a moment, then asked softly, “You just want me to talk to you, don’t you?”
Huyan Guanyin’s face turned red.
Xu Fengnian burst into laughter, reached out to pinch her smooth, delicate cheek, and then sighed helplessly, “Should I call you foolish or call you Clumsy? You’ve been so quiet, so I naturally assumed you weren’t happy being by my side, which is why I was thinking of sending you somewhere where you could be happy. Remember on the grasslands, you dared to mount me and ride me, and now look at you—lifeless and dull.”
She blushed and seemed to want to say something but held her tongue.
Xu Fengnian sighed and had her sit sideways on his lap. He wrapped one arm around her rounded shoulder and rested his chin on her head, continuing to flip through the letters.
This was what the sages called “remaining composed despite temptation.”
If I can’t become an earthly immortal in this life, it’s truly unjust.
The woman sitting sideways leaned forward slightly, pressing her chest against his arm.
At first, Xu Fengnian didn’t pay much attention, assuming she was just uncomfortable. But as his arm increasingly felt her not-so-innocent curves, he soon realized that perhaps it wasn’t so strange that he couldn’t become an earthly immortal.
Xu Fengnian placed the stack of letters on the floor, picking up only one, while his other hand slipped into her collar, feeling the smooth, soft curve beneath the thin satin. His five fingers gently pressed inward.
Huyan Guanyin tilted her head back, resting it on the arm that held the letter. Her eyes were filled with desire as she looked up at him, unsure of what to do, letting out a soft, delicate sound from her nose.
Xu Fengnian maintained a solemn and upright demeanor, feigning calmness.
The innocent girl, trying not to make a sound, bit down on one of her slender fingers.
This natural allure was truly irresistible.
Xu Fengnian looked down at her, asking himself, why not give up on becoming an earthly immortal today?
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